Illinois Revokes License Plates Over Controversy

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias revoked five personalized license plates referencing 'October 7' after complaints that they appeared to endorse the Hamas attacks on Israel. The decision followed an image of one plate, featuring 'OCT 7' with a 'Free Palestine' frame, which went viral and drew outrage from Jewish advocacy groups like StopAntisemitism. While the Anti-Defamation League praised the revocation, civil liberties advocates, including the ACLU of Illinois, raised concerns about the potential infringement on political speech and the vagueness of the criteria used for revocation. The plates were deemed offensive, falling under the state's guidelines that permit revocation for connotations that are not in 'good taste or decency.' This move comes amidst ongoing tensions and divisions in the U.S. over the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives since last year's attacks. Giannoulias' office emphasized its responsibility to review public complaints and maintain standards for license plates.